Todd Murray News

On Thanksgiving Day, BroadwayWorld announced the nominees in 14 categories for the 2015 BWW New York Cabaret Awards. BroadwayWorld's cabaret editors and reviewers congratulate all the deserving nominees and everyone who performs in the great art of cabaret in New York. But today, as you munch on the leftovers from last night's dinner, it's time to actually vote for that one performer who you think is the absolute best in each category. Voting ends on December 31 and after a review of the ballots, winners will be announced officially early the week of January 4, 2016. (Note: There will not be a BWW Awards Show this year.)

Happy Thanksgiving Day, Cabaret Fans! Here's some breaking news you can discuss and debate in between courses at tonight's dinner: It's the final nominees for the 2015 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards. This year, the cabaret editors and writers at BWW have cited 116 nominees (including duos and variety show/recurring series producers) in 14 categories. In addition, this year six performers or musicians have been cited for special “Editor's Choice Awards,” led by veteran New York cabaret stars Karen Mason and Mark Nadler who have been named “Performers of the Year.”

The second annual Cabaret Is Alive and Well and Living in Los Angeles, a 4-night, 3-show, 3-venue celebration of Los Angeles Cabaret as a benefit for The Actors Fund will take place this weekend, November 13th-16th.

The second annual Cabaret Is Alive and Well and Living in Los Angeles, a 4-night, 3-show, 3-venue celebration of Los Angeles Cabaret as a benefit for The Actors Fund will take place November 13th-16th.

On the second night of this year's 26th Annual Cabaret Convention, Jeff Harnar and Andrea Marcovicci hosted A Sentimental Journey: World War II Songs, inspired by Marcovicci's memorable Oak Room at The Algonquin show, I'll Be Seeing You--Love Songs of World War II. (The CD is highly recommended.) As always with this pair's Convention contribution, the show was a treat in part because of its singular glamour. Much of our audience was exceptionally familiar with and nostalgic about these songs. A few had to be politely quieted for singing along, more than a few took each other's hands. It seems I've heard that song before . . . the co-hosts begin, warming the room.

Jeff Harnar & Andrea Marcovicci hosted the second day of the Mabel Mercer Foundation's New York Cabaret Convention.  The Donald Smith Award was presented to Jeff by managing director Rick Meadows and Debbi Bush Whiting presented Celia Berk with The Margaret Whiting Award. Performing in the evenings concert were: Karen Akers, Danny Bacher, Julie Budd, Carole J. Bufford, Eric Comstock, Natalie Douglas, barbara Fasano, Jeff Harnar, Nicolas King, Karen Kohler, Andrea Mardovicci, Marissa Mulder, Todd Murray, Josephine Sanges, Jennifer Sheehan and Iris Williams.?

Stuart Moulton's Austin (Texas) Cabaret Theatre (may it thrive and prosper) turned 15 in tandem with his own 50th birthday. In celebration on Wednesday night, the Theatre's Artistic Director (also a performer himself) invited alumni and hopefuls to strut their stuff on the stage of 54 Below. The result was a wildly mixed bag of a show--featuring a few great vocalists and infectiously enthusiastic wannabes--which ran so exhaustively long that Moultan was able to change his clothes twice.

This week at 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

It's an undeniable, outstanding, and extraordinary musical milestone, to be sure: 2015 marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Mabel Mercer Foundation! Not only has the organization survived the ongoing and vastly fluctuating public tastes in music, lyrics, and performers, it has proliferated and burgeoned in its three decades of commitment to the classic, "Great Popular Songbook" -- both past and present.

This July and August, 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was thrilled that Los Angeles singer Todd Murray brought his acclaimed show 'CROON: When A Whisper Became A Song' to the historic music room this past Monday. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

“Lover, when I'm near you . . .” sings the debonair Todd Murray this past Monday night at Birdland, mere feet away from rapt eyes into which he pours himself. He's performing the waltzy song acoustically, voice full out in opposition to lyric mood. The back of the house undoubtedly finds sound muted. “This is how you would've heard a band singer in 1925, before a new technique called 'crooning',” he tells us. “From the time I started working, they always called me a crooner.”

Todd Murray celebrates the release of his new CD CROON with a special performance of his acclaimed CROON: When A Whisper Became A Song at the legendary Birdland, 315 West 44th St.,New York, on Monday, April 13th, at 7pm. There is a $30.00 cover charge (there is a $10 food/beverage minimum). Due to the high demand for this special event, reservations are highly recommended by calling 212-581-06-0440. You can also visit BirdlandJazz.com or ToddMurray.com for further information.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for April 13-19, featuring James Carter Organ Trio, Todd Murray in "Croon: When A Whisper Became A Song," Barbara Carroll, Jazz Party with Natalie Douglas, and more!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its April 2015 schedule, featuring Sheila Jordan with the Steve Kuhn Trio, Ms. Lisa Fischer, Eliane Elias, James Carter Organ Trio, Barbara Carroll, The Beegie Adair Trio with Monica Ramey, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

For the second time since December, sax superstar Dave Koz presented Jim Caruso's Cast Party in his new music room, The Dave Koz Lounge, which is located at Spaghettini in the heart of Beverly Hills, California. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

Rockwell Table & Stage could barely contain the theatre aficionados' applause and excitement generated by the incredible singers belting out one showstopper after another in An Evening of Classic Broadway.

Following spectacular performances at Upstairs at Vitello's, The Catalina Jazz Club and the El Caballero Country Club, Fraser Entertainment Group moves to Rockwell Table & Stage on Monday, March 16 with the critically- acclaimed ongoing series AN EVENING OF CLASSIC BROADWAY. This show welcomes a new cast of singers from Broadway, television and film.

On Sunday October 26, Clifford Bell presented the first Rick Starr Scholarship Fund Benefit Concert, entitled Starr Bucks, at Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City. The beloved Starr, who passed away about a year ago, worked at Hollywood Sheet Music and served the Los Angeles musical theatre community in a most unusual, endearing way. Not only did he assist singers over the years to find unpublished songs for their various club acts and cabaret performances, but would go out of his way to find material for them depending on their individual preferences...and would call each and every customer on his or her birthday every year, just to wish them a Happy Birthday. A rare and delightful human being! Starr was remembered fondly with anecdotes by the three cabaret stars of the evening Mary Jo Mundy, Todd Murray and Shawn Ryan. Affable virtuoso pianist/singer Michael Sobie served as accompanist/musical director throughout the 90 minute set.

Frank Sinatra is the most beloved and admired singer of our lifetime. He sold 150 million records and won 11 Grammy Awards, but that hardly begins to tell his story. 54 Below will honor Francis Albert Sinatra with an extraordinary evening of his most famous hits from throughout his career. The concert will offer Sinatra's early tunes like 'The Coffee Song,' mid-career hits like 'All the Way,' and 'Come Fly With Me,' and from there to the classic years with songs like 'It Was a Very Good Year,' and 'My Way.' Fascinating and little-known Sinatra anecdotes will pepper the evening, but the show will ultimately be all about the music, highlighting his greatest hits. The stars who sing his songs will be among the best and the brightest America has to offer. And most important, the songs will be performed in the style that made them famous by Sinatra in the first place. Simply put, this will be an unforgettable tribute to America's greatest star.